National Forum

New Format 2026 All Ireland

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "
Replying To tirawleybaron:  "That wont solve the league problem - namely it is seen to be a hinderance to progress in the All Ireland race

The league needs to be restructured so that teams have to take it seriously to get the game time they want.

Putting an extra week after the final before the first round of the championship wont make it any more desirable to do well in.

The solution is something like the structure used in the Hurling league up to 2024
6+6, 6+6 and 8 in the bottom division
5 games - top 1 into league semi, 2&3 into q finals, 4 gets no extra games, 5&6 go to relegation play off

Div 1A -Mayo, Donegal, Dublin, Roscommon, Tyrone, Cavan
Div 1B - Kerry, Galway, Armagh, Monaghan, Derry, Meath

Div 2A - Cork, Offaly, Down, Fermanagh, Sligo, Limerick
Div 2B - Louth, Kildare, Westmeath, Clare, Laois, Wexford

Div 3 - Leitrim, Antrim, Wicklow, Carlow, Tipperary, Longford, London, Waterford


Performance in the league the above would seed a three tier All Ireland. I would give the winners of the lower tier a guaranteed 2 years in the higher tier as a reward for winning a cup.

Sam Maguire - 12 teams (must contain provincial winners + tailteann winners from previous 2 years + div 2 winner)
Mayo, Donegal, Dublin, Roscommon, Tyrone, Kerry, Galway, Armagh, Monaghan, Meath, Down, Cork
4 groups of 3, Prov Champions seeded 1, best 4 from league seeded 2, rest seeded 3.
Rd 1: seed 2 home v 3, Rd 2: seed 1 home v 2, Rd3: seed 3 home v 1

Tailteann Cup - 12 teams (must contain provincial finalists (not in sam) and div 4 winners + lower tier winners)
Cavan, Derry, Louth, Offaly, Kildare, Fermanagh, Sligo, Limerick, Westmeath, Clare, Antrim, Wicklow

Tommy Murphy Cup - 8 teams
Wexford, Laois, Leitrim, Carlow, Tipperary, Longford, London, Waterford

Have a seven week gap between league finals and All Ireland championships

With the system above, threading water in the league will result in a long lay off and/or relegation from Sam/Tailteann"
Good ideas. 'Patrons' will note that Mayo are the first team listed in 1A and the Sam Maguire competition."
They did top the league in Div 1 on Sunday
Kerry were second - hence they top the other group

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1271 - 25/03/2025 13:04:43    2598528

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@tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1271 - 25/03/2025

Further League integration for AIC qualification seems like a good way to make the former really valuable - accumulation of needed match pts from League and Prov SFCs would be a real motivator (Aussie AFL and URC are only two of many examples of this tried and tested method).

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3148 - 25/03/2025 14:56:44    2598559

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Why reformat the league when all that is being asked for is a week off after league finals? Adopting league seeding for balanced provincial draws is a minimal change within the current structure. A small change that can bring balance and fairness to the much maligned provincial championships!
* Top 4 in Leinster and Ulster seeded in quarter final draws for provinces with more than 8 teams. Top 2 in Munster and Connacht seeded in semi final draws for provinces with less than 8 teams.
* 8 and 9 paired in Ulster preliminary round. 6 to 8 drawn against 9 to 11 in Leinster preliminary round. 3 and 4 drawn against 5 and 6 in Munster quarter finals.
* Connacht rotation of counties travelling to London and New York can be kept. The highest ranked of the other 3 counties can get a bye to the semi final, with the other 2 being paired in the remaining quarter final. 1 and 2 can still be kept in the semi final draw though one or both of them might be travelling overseas in the quarter finals.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8616 - 25/03/2025 15:59:53    2598570

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Why reformat the league when all that is being asked for is a week off after league finals? Adopting league seeding for balanced provincial draws is a minimal change within the current structure. A small change that can bring balance and fairness to the much maligned provincial championships!
* Top 4 in Leinster and Ulster seeded in quarter final draws for provinces with more than 8 teams. Top 2 in Munster and Connacht seeded in semi final draws for provinces with less than 8 teams.
* 8 and 9 paired in Ulster preliminary round. 6 to 8 drawn against 9 to 11 in Leinster preliminary round. 3 and 4 drawn against 5 and 6 in Munster quarter finals.
* Connacht rotation of counties travelling to London and New York can be kept. The highest ranked of the other 3 counties can get a bye to the semi final, with the other 2 being paired in the remaining quarter final. 1 and 2 can still be kept in the semi final draw though one or both of them might be travelling overseas in the quarter finals."
I think because the issues go beyond just finding an extra week of rest.

The top teams don't play one another in meaningful games on a regular enough basis.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4431 - 25/03/2025 18:25:34    2598586

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